Fastening means for hammers and the like



June 11, 1929. n s, L SHEPARD 1,716,605

Filled Nov. 3o, 1925 -TiL 7 i 1 5 Tw-E- .El e l ST4 NLE YJ. SHE/mea mom Cin Patented June 11, 1929.

, unirsi) stares STANLEY OESEPHUS SHEPARD, F PQRTERVILLQ, CALEQR/ N 1A.

` resfrnnrne arnansronnaivinnns Ann riss l y Application i filed frtovemberv ivty invention relates to hammers, axes and similar tools, and it is a purpose of my invention to provide simple, inexpensive and du rable fastening n'ieans applicable to any tool head or blade and any tapered tool handle for perinanently securing the hea-d on the handle, thcl fastening means being adjustable te accommodate itself to handles of different taper and to permit retightening of the head on the handle. in event of loosening dueto enlargement of the tool head stock orcontraction of the handle, either of which may occur after long use. *i v l will describe only one form of fastening means for hammers and the like embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing' inside elevation, and partly in section, one form of fasteningl means embodying my invention in applied position Wit-h respect to a hammer; f

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3 8 of Figure 1;

Figure f1 is an enlarged sectional perspective view of the hammer head shown in the precedin g views.

Referring; specificallyto the drawings, in'

which similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views, my invention in its present embodiment is shown applied to a hammer, although it is to be understood that the 'fastening means is applicable kto any form of tool comprising a handle having' a tapered portion and a tool head provided with a tapered socket in which the tapered portion of the handle is received. The hammer here shown comprises a handle fhavingr an end portion 16 tapered toward .its free end and adapted to be inserted into the tapered socket lvof a hammer head 18, it beine` understood that the taper of the socket is slightly less than the taper of the handle so that the handle can be inserted only part Way through the socket. Y i

The fastening' means embodying, my invention comprises a pair of ra cked elements 19 in the form of rectangular plates provided on their outer faces with transversely disposed teeth, all of Which entend inthe same direction and toivard the handle 15 When in applied position thereto. These racked elements19 are snugly fitted in recesses 2O formed in the taperedN portion 16 of the handle and at opt Wallet the socket 1'?. y

the pockets are preferably tapered transversements.

30, 19725.,k Servalfito.` 72,3215 i posite sides thereof. The teeth the ele-V ments are substantially'flush With the surface of the tapered portion in order that such portion can be readily inserted into the socket 17 of the hammer head.

The fastening,- means further includes a pair of pawls 21 formed of spring` steel and having` their lower ends, as when viewed in liigu re ZS,

secured byrnieans 'of rivets 22m pockets or recesses 23 formed at opposite points on the rlhe parvis, as well as ly, and the free ends of the pawls are curved outwardly to provide teeth 24 which, under the inherent resiliency of the metal of which they are formed, project from the pockets into the socket for engagement with the teeth of the racked elements 19. i

In applying' the handle to the hammer head the tapered portion 16 is readily insertable into the socket 17, andduring this operation the toothed ends 2e of the paivls 21 are forced inwardly in the pockets 23 until the racked kelement= reach the pawls, when the latter' springY inwardly into engagement with the reley By virtue of the direction in which the teeth of the racked elements entend, it will be manifest that the tapered portion can be inserted into the socket until it has tight engagementthereWith, the pawls 21 in the meantime sliding,` over the toothed surface of the racked elements. vl/*ith the tapered portion in final position Within the socket the teeth 24' of the pawls 21 engageccrtain teeth of the rarked elements 19, as illustrated to advantage inFieu-re 3, and in such manner that the hammer head is securely locked on thetapered portion of the handle against outward more-k ment on the tapered portion. Any tendency of the head to fly ofi1 of the handle during use of the tool is effectively resisted 'bythe pan'ls engaging the racked elements, but should the hammer head Work looser after extended use because of shrinlningor contraction of the tapered portion, it will be clear that the tapered portioir can be further inserted v into the socket to render a tight connection between the two, and in the final position the pawls still en gage the racked elements to securely lock the head in 'the new position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of fastening," means for hammers and the like embodyingl my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the handle having a tapered portion insertable i nl'o the tapered socket und provided with re- Cesses7 and racked elements in the recesses of the tapered portion of the handle operating to 1 ierniit insertion of the tapered portion of the handle into the socket but to engage the pzuvls and thus leek the handle against Withdrawal from the socket.

STANLEY J GESEPHUS SHEPARD. 

